Become the Buddha, Dharma and the Sangha

Today's entry comes from the Summer 2004 Mindfulness Bell: A Journal of the Art of Mindful Living. This is an excerpt from Thich Nhat Hanh's Dharma talk titled, "Take Refudge in Your In-Breath" addressing the retreat Sangha. It is a commentary on the teachings of Master Linji.
Linji, is Buddhist monk from ninth-century China. The TNH lineage descends from Master Linji.

In the records of Master Linji it says, "The practioners of our time do not succeed because they do not have faith in themselves. They are always looking outside." They think that they can get compassion and wisdom from the Buddha, from the Dharma, from the Sangha outside of themselves. They don't know that they are the Buddha, they are the Dharma, and they are the Sangha. They should allow themselves to become the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha. They should allow the Buddha, Dharma, and Sangha to become themselves. This is the teaching of Master Linji.

People like to say, take refuge in the Buddha, take refuge in the Dharma, take refuge in the Sangha. But, I like to say, take refuge in your in-breath, take refuge in your out-breath, take refuge in your steps. The Buddha may be an abstract idea, but your in-breath is a reality, your steps are a reality. You are looking for the Buddha, you are looking for the Dharma. You are not truly taking refuge in them because you have not found them. But you don't have to look for your in-breath; it is right there in front of your nose. You don't have to look for your steps; they are right there in your feet. That is why taking refuge in your in-breath, taking refuge in your steps is very concrete. When you are doing that the Buddha, the Dharma, and the Sangha become concrete also. You don't have to run after the Buddha; the Buddha will run to you. You don't have to look for the Dharma; the Dharma will come to you.

-Peace to you All-